Disposable douche

ABSTRACT

A disposable douche is provided which comprises a cannula and a flexible bellows portion, which interfit by simply pressing of the two, together. The cannula is provided with at least one discharge port that is substantially free of any plastic minutia and is formed during the molding operation of the cannula.

United States Patent [191 Zanca Nov. 13, 1973 [5 DISPOSABLE DOUCHE3,626,939 12/1971 Maltenfort 128/232 1,413,789 4/1922 Schafi' 128/232 UX[76] JsePh Zanca Zanca Mldmg 2,568,915 9/1951 Friedman... 128/232 ux Q91 1 j -J j9 19 3,454,007 7/1969 Salis 128/232 N.Y. 11204 3,581,7436/1971 Stein 128/232 [22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 Primary Examiner-Lucie H.Laudenslager PP 277,195 Attorney-Geoffrey R. Myers 521 US. Cl. 128/232[57] ABSTRACT [5l] Int. Cl A6lm 7/02 A disposable douche is providedwhich comprises a [58] Field of Search 128/232, 233, 248, cannula and aflexible bellows portion, which interfit 128/25l 'by simply pressing ofthe two, together. The cannula is provided with at least one dischargeport that is sub- [56] References Cited stantially free of any plasticminutia and is formed UNITED STATES PATENTS during the molding operationof the cannula.

2,047,437 7/1936 Sinkler 128/232 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PatentedNov. 13, 1973 3,771,523

HG. I

DISPOSABLE DOUCHE This invention relates to douches and moreparticularly to a disposable douche fabricated from low cost syntheticresinous materials by conventional and readily available moldingequipment.

It is known, as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,626,939, that a disposabledouche may be fabricated in a single piece, preferably by blow molding.Blow molding the entire douche in a single operation has been found torequire a precise control of the parison size, blow pressures and otherprocess variables, owing to the very different thickness of the cannulaand the flexible bag to which it is attached in a unitary structure.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the manufacture ofthe douche.

Another object of the invention is to improve over disposable douchesshown in the prior art as exemplified by Kempel US. Pat. No. 2,664,893,;McKenna U.S. Pat. No. 3,057,352; Ellis Us. Pat. No. 3,144,866,; SokolicUS. Pat. No. 3,495,706 and others, and especially in the manner in whichthe cannula and bellows portion of the disposable douche of thisinvention are interfitted.

Still a further object of this invention is to. provide a disposabledouche in which the two components are fitted together by simplypressing and which does not involve a threaded connection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a douche which is moreeconomical to manufacture than douches heretofore known in the art.

Still another object is to provide a douche with a built-in safetyfeature which prevents the application of excessive pressure to the userin the event that a blockage occurs in the cannula portion.

These and other objects of the invention will be pointed out or willbecome apparent from the descrip: tion which follows taken inconjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in partial section showing the two parts of a douche inaccordance with this invention as they are assembled;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of a modification of the douche ofFIG. 1 showing the parts separated; I

FIG. 3 is a similar view, partly in section showing an othermodification of the douche in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, one example of a douche in accordance with thisinvention comprises a cannulaportion and a bellows portion 20. Thedouche is com.- pleted by inserting cannula portion 10 into bellowsportion as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The cannula 10 is formed, preferably by blow molding or otherconventional molding technique, with a generally cylindrical or ovalshape of dimensions suitable for insertion into a vagina or other usearea. Cannula 10 is usually provided with one or more holes 12,connecting the head end of the cannula with a central passageway 14which extends along the central axis of the cannula. Holes or bores 12may be made by piercing the walls of the cannula by drilling or by otherpiercing means, or they may be formed by the use of pins or cores duringthe blow molding. A particularly preferred technique for forming theseholes is described in my copending patent application filed concurrentlyherewith and entitled Mold and Process. In this application there isdisclosed a mold which provides within its walls a reciprocatingpiercing means which forms these holes simultaneously with the moldingof the cannula. As further disclosed in this copending application,cannulas are usually formed of a conventional plastic material whichwhen drilled by conventional port forming techniques will result inholes formed therein that are frayed (i.e., present plastic minutiaabout the circumference of the hole). Such minutia become a potentialcontaminant. In accordance with the above-described techniques of thiscopending application, this problem is substantially eliminated and theresulting holes so formed are non-frayed in that they are free of anysubstantial amount of plastic minutia. The disclosure of thisapplication is incorporated herein by reference. Holes 12 may extendperpendicular to the axis or bore 14 or they may bev inclined thereto atany suitable angle.

The end of the cannula opposite from the head end tapers inwardly sothat the end 16 is narrower than the body of the cannula 15. The taperedsection 1 8 is connected to the. main body of the cannula by a ring orbulb 17, by an undercut section 19 as best seen in FIG. 2.

Bellows 20 comprises a bag portion 22 which may be pleated, for exampleas shown in US. Pat. No. 3,495,706. An accordian shaped section 24connects the bag 22 with the mouth portion 26 of the bellows 20.Themouth portion 26 comprises a straight sided out wardly taperedportion 28 into which the inwardly tapered portion 18 of the cannulafits. As shown in FIG. 2, there may be provided, adjacent to the outerextremity of the mouthpiece 26, an annular enlargement 29 adapted to fitinto undercut 19 of the cannula.

The cannula 10 fits into the bellows in much the same manner as astopper fits into a bottle.

As will be readily apparent, the enlargement can be at the end of thecannula, as shown at 40 in FIG. 3, and the undercut may be provided atthe inner end of the mouthpiece 26, as shown at 42 in FIG. 3. It is alsopossible to provide more than a singlev locking ring and, of course, ifmore than one ring is provided any of the rings may be snapped into asingle undercut or a plurality of undercuts may be provided to mate witha plurality of rings.

Furthermore, the annulus 29 and/or undercut 19 may be omitted and, ifdesired, the mating surfaces of mouthpiece 26 and cannula portion 16 maybe roughened or otherwise prepared to insure a tighter fit. In aparticularly preferred form'of this invention, neither annulus 29 norenlargement 40 and undercut 42 are employed. Nor is it necessary toroughen the aforesaid mating surfaces. Rather, an excellent andeconomical joint for the purposes of this invention is formed byemploying the simple design illustrated in FIG. 1.

The location of ring 29and undercut 19, if employed, may be at anypoints along the length of the tapered sections but to obtain themaximum effect it is preferred that they be located at the ends of thetapered sections.

It will be seen that the douche parts are fitted together in a simpleand positive manner without the use of screw threads or otherconfigurations which may complicate the molding procedure, including theejection of the molded parts form the molds.

Furthermore, should a blockage occur in any of the passages in thecannula, with consequent buildings of I claim:

1. In a molded cannula adapted for use in a douche device, said cannulahaving a head end provided with at least one discharge port and, incommunication with said port, a bore extending along its axis, saidcannula being formed of a plastic material which would normally presentplastic minutia about the port if said port were drilled therein, theimprovement comprising said at least one port being substantially freeof any plastic minutia and formed during the molding operation of thecannula.

2. A cannula according to claim 1 wherein said cannula is substantiallytubular in shape and there are a plurality of said ports in thelongitudinal walls of said cannula.

3. In a disposable douch including (1) a cannula and (2) a collapsible,flexible container adapted to contain a fluid and having an open mouthsection through which a fluid in said container may be expelled throughsaid cannula, the improvement comprising the cannula of claim 1 andmeans for connecting said cannula to said collapsible, flexiblecontainer, said means consisting of a tapered section at the endopposite said head end of said cannula and a taper on said mouth sectionwhereby said cannula and said container may be assembled for use bysimply bringing the two tapered parts together and exerting pressurealong the axis of the cannula to cause the tapered end of the cannula toslide into the open mouth section of the container.

4. The douche of claim 3 whereinthe mouth section of said containerincludes at least one annular portion, thicker than the remainder of thetapered mouth section and the end of the cannula which is to fit thereinincludes an annular undercut portion adapted to receive said thickerportion of said container.

5. The douche of claim 3 wherein the end of said cannula which is to fitinto the mouth of said flexible container including a thicker annulusand the mouth of said flexible bag includes an annular undercut adaptedto receive said thicker annulus portion of said cannula.

6. The douche of claim 3 wherein said tapered section at said oppositeend of said cannula tapers inwardly as the taper approaches saidopposite end, and wherein said taper on said mouth section tapersoutwardly as the taper approaches the end of said mouth section.

1. In a molded cannula adapted for use in a douche device, said cannulahaving a head end provided with at least one discharge port and, incommunication with said port, a bore extending along its axis, saidcannula being formed of a plastic material which would normally presentplastic minutia about the port if said port were drilled therein, theimprovement comprising said at least one Port being substantially freeof any plastic minutia and formed during the molding operation of thecannula.
 2. A cannula according to claim 1 wherein said cannula issubstantially tubular in shape and there are a plurality of said portsin the longitudinal walls of said cannula.
 3. In a disposable douchincluding (1) a cannula and (2) a collapsible, flexible containeradapted to contain a fluid and having an open mouth section throughwhich a fluid in said container may be expelled through said cannula,the improvement comprising the cannula of claim 1 and means forconnecting said cannula to said collapsible, flexible container, saidmeans consisting of a tapered section at the end opposite said head endof said cannula and a taper on said mouth section whereby said cannulaand said container may be assembled for use by simply bringing the twotapered parts together and exerting pressure along the axis of thecannula to cause the tapered end of the cannula to slide into the openmouth section of the container.
 4. The douche of claim 3 wherein themouth section of said container includes at least one annular portion,thicker than the remainder of the tapered mouth section and the end ofthe cannula which is to fit therein includes an annular undercut portionadapted to receive said thicker portion of said container.
 5. The doucheof claim 3 wherein the end of said cannula which is to fit into themouth of said flexible container including a thicker annulus and themouth of said flexible bag includes an annular undercut adapted toreceive said thicker annulus portion of said cannula.
 6. The douche ofclaim 3 wherein said tapered section at said opposite end of saidcannula tapers inwardly as the taper approaches said opposite end, andwherein said taper on said mouth section tapers outwardly as the taperapproaches the end of said mouth section.